Rail-joint chair.



No. 810,493. PATENTBD IAN. z3. 1906.

I D. A W. I.. MERSIBLDBR.

RAIL IOINI CHAIR. APPLICATION FILED 00T. 25. 1905.

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PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES DANIEL MERSFELDER, OF CINCINNATI, AND WILLIAM L. MERSFELDER, OF NORVOOD, OHIO.

RAIL-JOINT CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 1906.

Application led October 25, 1905. Serial No. 284,274.

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Beit known that we, DANIEL MnRsFnLDnr., residing at Cincinnati, and lVILLIAu L. MERSFELDER, residing at Norwood, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joint Chairs; and we do declare the following` to be a clear, full, and exact description of the invention, attention being called to the accompanying drawings, with the reference characters marked thereon, which form also a part of this specification.

This invention relates to means for connecting the adjoining ends of two track-rails in the same manner as is done by the customary fish-plates, adding, however, the function of also keeping these ends vertically in alinement.

The invention consists of the particular construction as hereinafter described and claimed and as the same is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of the parts involved in the joint. Fig. 2 is an end View of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation with parts broken away. Fig. 4 is a top view, also with parts broken away.

In the drawings, 7 7 indicate the ends of the rails to be connected and supported on customary ties 8. The construction involved in the formation of the joint and of the chair comprises substantially two lish-plates 9 9, which, in conjunction with bolts 10, furnish the means for connecting the rails endwise. At their lower edges these {ish-plates 9 9 are each extended laterally, as shown at 11 11, downwardly below the rail-base, as shown at 12 12, and again inwardly, as shown at 13 18, these parts so extended forming complementary parts of a housing, which occupies a position below both rail ends and between the ties thereat, as best shown in Fig. 3. These complementary parts are rigidly connected by bolts 111, passing through the bottom portions 13 13, and agroove-and-feather joint 15 is preferably formed where the inner edges of these bottom portions come together.` This housing is not as long as lsh-plates 9 9 or their lateral extensions 11, which latter project beyond at each end, forming flanges 16 16 thereat, which permit attachment to ties 8 8 by means of spikes 17. The ends of this housing may be left open or closed, as shown.

The object of this housing is to form a snpport for the members constituting the railchair proper-that is, those parts which aline the rail ends vertically and are also used to maintain them so. These parts consist of a base-plate 18 of a length sufficient to extend under both rail ends and is preferably provided with ribs 19 on both edges which fit against the edges of the rail-base to prevent displacement laterally. The under side of this plate presents two inclined surfaces, as best shown in Fig. 1, against which two wedges 21 are litted, which rest on the bottom of this housing. It will now be seen that if these two wedges are drawn toward each other they will act against the under side of base-plate 18 and force the same up against both rail ends simultaneously, thus holding them in vertical alinement. For such purpose bolts 22 are used, seated in one wedge and provided on their other ends with a nut 23 for action. In order to render this nut accessible from the outside of the housing, it is necessary to interpose a collar 24, 'which may also be a hub integral with this wedge. Tall 12 on one side of the housing is provided with openings to permit these hubs to project through.

It will be noted that all nuts, particularly nuts 23, are accessible, thus permitting retightening in case any parts of the joint or chair become loose. In cases where this joint is used in connection with rails for steamrailroads such access may be readily had. To obviate tearing up the pavement when these rails are laid in paved streets or when, for instance, the joint is used in connection with street-railway rails, we provide a box 25, which may be an integral lateral extension of one of the complementary parts of the housing. A cover 26, resting on an internal shoulder 27, closes the box on a level with the street-pavement and by its removal permits ready access to the nuts below at any time.

Having described our invention, we claim as new- 1. In rail-end-alining means, a base-plate having ribs on opposite edges to receive between them the base of two adjoining' rail ends and wedges adapted to act against the under side of this plate to hold it against the under side of the rail ends.

2. In rail-end-alining means, the combination of a base-plate extending under both adjoining rail ends, and having inclined, wedge- IOO engaging surfaces on its under side, wedges fitted to act against these surfaces, supports for these wedges and bolts to adjust them laterally on these supports with reference to the base-plate above.

3. In a rail-joint, the combination of railend-connecting means which are extended downwardly to form a closed housing, and rail-end-alining means contained in this hous- 4. In a rail-joint, the combination of rail# end-connecting means which are extended downwardly to form a closed housing, railend-alining means contained therein, bolts to adjust these means and a box on one side of this housing to permit access to these bolts.

5. In a rail-joint, the combination of railend-connecting means which are extended downwardly to `form a closed housing, wedges in this housing, a base-plate between them and the rail ends above and means to act upon these wedges in a manner to hold the baseplate against both rail ends.

6. In rail-end-alining means, the combination of a base-plate below both rail ends, wedges adapted to act against the same from below, they being perforated to receive bolts for such purpose and supports for these wedges to hold them in opposition to their action against the base-plate above.

7. In a rail-joint, the combination of a housing, rail-alining means contained therein and tie-engaging attaching-anges at opposite ends of this housing.

8. In a rail-joint, the combination of railend-connecting fish-plates which at their lower edges are extended outwardly and downwardlyover the rail-base and inwardly again at some distance below the rail-base so as to form a housing thereat, bolts to connect these lishplates to the rail ends, additional bolts to connect their extended parts below the railbase which form the housing, a rail-end-alining base-plate with wedges under it contained in the housing mentioned and bolts to mani pulate these wedges in a manner to cause them to hold the base-plate against the under side of the adjoining rail ends.

In testimony whereof we hereunto ailix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL MERSFELDER. WILLIAM L. MERSFELDER.

Witnesses:

C. SPENGEL, C. MEYER. 

